NBA

7-time All-Star Mourning retires

MIAMI -- Alonzo Mourning has decided to retire rather than mount another NBA comeback at age 38.

The seven-time All-Star center said Thursday he won't return from a devastating leg injury Dec. 19, 2007 -- the fourth anniversary of his lifesaving kidney transplant. He had been working out at the Miami Heat complex and said he's running and jumping again, but he feared another leg injury if he returned.

"My health is more important than anything," Mourning said at a news conference. "God willing I'll be able to live another 40 or 50 years, and I want to do it in a comfortable state. Right now I'm there."

Mourning, who turns 39 next month, played at Georgetown and was the second overall pick in the 1992 draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He also played for New Jersey but spent the majority of his career with the Heat, helping them reach the playoffs six consecutive years. He was the backup center to Shaquille O'Neal when Miami won the NBA title in 2006.

If he hadn't won a championship ring, Mourning said he might keep playing.

"When you've got something you love and you're passionate about, it's hard to let that go," Mourning said. "But at 38 I feel I've physically done all I can for this game. It has been an amazing ride."

Mourning was diagnosed in October 2000 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a career-threatening kidney disease. He missed most of the ensuing season but rejoined the Heat in March 2001 and made the All-Star team the following year.

When his condition worsened, he missed the entire 2002-03 season and underwent a transplant in 2003. Again he returned, but for three consecutive summers beginning in 2005, Mourning considered retirement before choosing to keep playing.

He hasn't played since tearing the patella tendon and quadriceps muscle in his right leg 13 months ago.

"It's not a sad day, but it's a day to celebrate," Mourning said. "I can think of a million people right now that would have loved to walk the path I've walked. The ups and the downs made it even more joyous."

Heat president Pat Riley and owner Micky Arison also attended the news conference. Riley acquired Mourning in a trade shortly after becoming Miami's coach in 1995.

"He was the very best thing that ever happened to this franchise," Riley said. "He will always be respected by Mickey and myself for being the taproot of a culture that we're really proud of. He embodies that.

"We love you, Zo. You will wear that jersey one more time -- when we rip it off your back and hang it from the rafters."

Baseball

Kent calls it a career after 17 years in baseball

LOS ANGELES -- A tearful Jeff Kent announced his retirement Thursday after a 17-year major league career.

The 40-year-old second baseman paused several times to gather himself while announcing his decision during a news conference at Dodger Stadium.

"I believe I've played this game right and I believe I'm leaving this game right," he said.

Kent leaves as the career home-run leader among second basemen with 351, 74 more than Ryne Sandberg. A five-time All-Star and the 2000 NL MVP, Kent made his only World Series appearance with San Francisco in 2002, when the Giants lost to the Los Angeles Angels in seven games.

Kent's eyes watered as he watched video highlights of his career set to music. His wife, daughter and three young sons smiled while highlights of their father's career flashed on screens around the room.

He said retirement beckoned because he had grown tired of life on the road and from being away from his family for much of the year.

Kent had a .290 career batting average, 377 homers, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. He was drafted by Toronto in 1989 and also played for the New York Mets, Cleveland, San Francisco and Houston.

"Half of my playing career I was able to get on a team and then make the playoffs and what a special feeling that is to be part of," he said. "The reasons why I was able to do such things is because of my teammates."

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, general manager Ned Colletti and much of the team's front-office staff crowded into the room to hear Kent recount his career.

• Cardinals' Glaus out 3 months after surgery: Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus will be sidelined for about three months after arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.

The 2002 World Series MVP will begin physical therapy next week following Wednesday's surgery in Los Angeles. He likely will miss the Cardinals' opener on April 6.

"It's a loss, but it's part of the game," general manager John Mozeliak said. "We'll be fine. We'll find a way to survive."

The 32-year-old Glaus hit .270 with 27 homers and 99 RBIs last season, his first with the Cardinals. He appeared at the team's annual Winter Warmup event last weekend and made no mention of an injury or a need for surgery.

Mozeliak said the team first learned from Glaus during the Christmas holidays that he was experiencing some discomfort as he began increasing workouts in anticipation of spring training. Glaus was sent to a team doctor in Florida.

An injection didn't help, and the team learned Monday that surgery was planned. Mozeliak said it was possible Glaus could be ready by opening day.

"It's really hard to guess when he'll return until he can start doing some baseball activities," Mozeliak said.

• Report: McGwire accused by brother of steroid use: Mark McGwire's youngest brother says in a book proposal that he injected the former baseball star with steroids, according to Deadspin.com.

Jay McGwire is circulating a manuscript titled "The McGwire Family Secret: The Truth about Steroids, a slugger and Ultimate Redemption," the Web site reported Wednesday. Jay McGwire, a body builder, said his brother started using steroids in 1994 and that he injected Mark with Deca-Durabolin.

"Mark is a man I think most would like to forgive because his reason wasn't nefarious -- it was for survival," the proposal says, according to the Web site. "My bringing the truth to surface about Mark is out of love. I want Mark to live in truth to see the light, to come to repentance so he can live in freedom -- which is the only way to live."

Jay McGwire, who says he has a strained relationship with his brother, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Telephone numbers for his home and fitness center in California were disconnected.

Mark McGwire repeatedly has denied using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. When he testified under oath before Congress in 2005, however, he wouldn't discuss whether he did.

"Who knows what might have happened if I didn't get Mark involved with all the training, supplements, the right foods, steroids, and HGH?" the Web site quoted Jay McGwire as writing. "He would not have broken any records, and the congressional hearings would have gone on without him. Maybe Barry Bonds wouldn't have ever gotten involved with the stuff, either."

Figure Skating

Surprise! Czisny tops up-and-comers

CLEVELAND -- Alissa Czisny showed the youngsters how it should be done, winning the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night.

Czisny showed none of the nerves that have done her in so many times in the past, skating a beautiful program that earned her 65.75 points. Not only is that seven points better than her previous personal best, it gives her a five-point lead going into Saturday afternoon's free skate.

Rachael Flatt, the reigning junior world champion, is second with 60.19. Caroline Zhang, the 2007 junior world champ, is in third. Defending champion Mirai Nagasu hit the boards on the landing of her opening triple lutz, dropping her to a disappointing sixth place.

In the pairs short program, Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett made the most of their debut at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, pulling off a huge upset by beating defending champs Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker and veterans Rena Inoue and John Baldwin.

Denney and Barrett, who skated together briefly two years ago and only reunited in June, earned 61.51 points for a flawless program Thursday. McLaughlin and Brubaker had 61.12 despite two noticeable errors, putting them a mere hundredth of a point ahead of Inoue and Baldwin.

The free skate is Saturday, and because the top three couples are so close, it's winner takes all.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White extended their lead in ice dance with a rollicking original dance that had the fans feeling as if they were in a time warp to the 1920s. With an almost nine-point lead over reigning world junior champions Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, Davis and White just have to show up for Saturday's free dance and the title is pretty much theirs.

The only dance team in the United States who's better, Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, aren't here because of his back injury.

Hockey

Injured Crosby to miss All-Star game

MONTREAL -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will miss the All-Star game because of an injured left knee.

Tampa Bay Lightning leading scorer Martin St. Louis will replace Crosby on the Eastern Conference roster, the NHL announced Thursday. The game is Sunday at the Bell Centre.

Crosby sat out last Friday's game because of the knee injury, and was struck twice on the left arm by pucks during a 2-1 loss to Carolina on Tuesday night.

Crosby received a record 1.7 million votes in fan balloting. A high ankle sprain kept him out of last year's All-Star game.

St. Louis will be making his fifth straight All-Star game appearance. He has 17 goals and 29 assists this season.

College Football

Tennessee to spend $5.3M on coaching salaries

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-- Tennessee will pay more than $5.3 million to its football coaches in 2009, including $2 million for head coach Lane Kiffin $1.2 million for defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

The previous staff under Phillip Fulmer was set to make a combined $4.7 million in 2009.

Recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has the next largest salary with $650,000 this season. Offensive coordinator and line coach Jim Chaney will make $380,000, and linebackers coach Lance Thompson will make $350,000.

The total ranks Tennessee's football coaching salary pool fourth among the Southeastern Conference's football programs.